Current Minimum Wage
Albuquerque$12.00since January 1, 2026

City · New Mexico

Albuquerque minimum wage

$12.00 an hour as of October 3, 2026. The New Mexico state rate is $12.00.

  • The Albuquerque minimum wage is $12.00 an hour (all employers...), effective .
  • At $12.00 an hour, 40 hours a week for 52 weeks is $24,960 before taxes.
  • That equals the New Mexico state rate.
  • 2 tiers apply: all employers... $12.00; tipped employees (city rate, higher than the state's $3.00) $7.20.
  • The next change is : an indexed adjustment, amount to be announced.
  • Coverage: Employees working inside Albuquerque city limits.

Calculate weekly and annual pay at $12.00

Rates and tiers

TierRateSince
all employers...$12.00
tipped employees (city rate, higher than the state's $3.00)$7.20

Indexing

Yes
CPI-W (2024-25 change 2.916%, rounded to no increase for 2026 per city notice) adjusts 01-01 announced City of Albuquerque City Attorney's Office

Tipped

$7.20
Tipped cash wage is 60% of the applicable minimum wage ($7.20 on $12.00) and exceeds the state $3.00 tipped wage, so it governs in Albuquerque; tips must make up the difference to $12.00.

Ordinance

Albuquerque Revised Ordinances 1994 sec. 13-12 (Minimum Wage Ordinance, voter-approved 2012)
Ordinance text · City of Albuquerque, City Attorney's Office (505-768-4500)

Scheduled increases

January 1, 20271 jurisdiction
CityTBA
Albuquerque, NMall tiers · indexed-unannounced · City rate adjusts by CPI-W each Jan 1; state $12.00 continues to prevail until the city rate exceeds it.
TBAindexed, amount to be announced

Rates unchanged from 2025 to 2026 ($12.00 / $12.00 / $7.20). New Mexico state minimum wage $12.00 (tipped $3.00) since 2023-01-01; state rate prevails where a local rate is lower.

Common questions

What is the Albuquerque minimum wage?

$12.00 an hour for all employers..., effective January 1, 2026.

Is the Albuquerque minimum wage higher than the New Mexico state minimum wage?

It is $12.00; the state rate is $12.00.

When does the Albuquerque minimum wage change next?

On January 1, 2027, by an indexed amount to be announced.

Sources

  1. https://www.cabq.gov/legal/albuquerque-minimum-wage-information official
  2. https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/

Checked 2026-09-02; researcher confidence 0.90.